David Ranney's Tennis Blog

Questions About Breathing

Here are some good questions about breathing by Michael.

 

“I really enjoy your book and newsletter.  Thanks for providing a common sense, concise and fresh perspective to the game of tennis... and beyond.

 

Questions that I have for you regarding breathing during tennis ---are...

 

1) When do you recommend the exhale begin as it continues throughout the tennis stroke?  In reading your book, on volleys and return of serves I get that it begins as the ball is coming towards me. 

2) Does that includes the throughout backswing?  (or part of the backswing?)

3) How about on the serve, overheads, and ground strokes...  Should the exhalation begin at the backswing and continue through the whole swing and follow through?  (or even begin during part of the backswing?)

4) Does exhalation become more intense when the tennis ball is actually on the strings?

 

I don't mean to get caught up in the specifics (and lose sight of the forest by looking at the trees). However, since breathing is so fundamentally important the rhythm and focus of the game, your insight is appreciated.

 

Thanks for sharing your time and perspective.”

 

 

My Answer:

 

Hi Michael,

 

Thanks for the good questions.

 

My answer is very simple. It doesn’t matter when you begin your exhale as long as it starts before contact. Remember the whole purpose of the breathing is that the upper body can be as relaxed as possible when hitting the ball.

 

When practicing, I usually work on timing my exhale based on where the ball is, but not in relationship to my swing. I like to start my exhale somewhere around (either before, as, or after) when the ball bounces when I am hitting a ground stroke and just after the ball leaves my opponents racket when I am at net hitting volleys. On the return of serve, I start it when the ball is hit.

 

Now that I think about it, I believe it makes more sense to time the exhale with where the ball is because that will help keep your focus on the ball even though we are not actually working on seeing the ball. However, if, for you, the timing of the exhale works better when you start it sometime during the stroke, then you should do it that way. As I said, the important thing is to start before contact and let it be long and relaxed. I am assuming that you know that when you play points, you do not think or try to work on breathing “correctly.” At this time, just let it be what it will be. If you are aware of it not happening properly, re-program it and practice it in a later practice session.

 

The answer to your last question is no, the exhale should not be more intense when making contact with the ball. In fact, that is one of the critical things to be aware of. Are you still doing a relaxed exhale on contact? This is harder to do when hitting a serve, but even more important. And, yes, you can swing as hard as you can on a serve (or any other shot) and still have the exhale be long and relaxed.

Having trouble with the breathing? Who Isn't?

I got an e-mail about having difficulty with the breathing. Anybody out there not?

 

Yes, I know the breathing part is hard. It was the last thing for me to be able to do. However, the end result is worth it so just keep on working on it. Remember, this whole mental game is a process and like any skill, it takes time.

 

Have you tried just focusing on the breathing and not thinking about anything else? Have you said to yourself, “ I am going to play a different game today. Today, I am going to just focus on a relaxed exhale and if I miss every ball and lose 6-0, 6-0, I won’t care about it.”

 

Here is another idea. Sometimes when I was playing, I would play two points breathing, two points seeing the ball and then two points combining.

 

In case you want to know why people have difficulty with the breathing, it is because they have to really let go of trying. The conscious mind really wants to get involved with hitting the ball and will take away focusing on things like the breathing.

 

So, have fun with it and know that it will be what it will be when it wants to be. I think you will have to translate that into plain English. Let me know if you need any help with the translation.

Would Seeing The Ball And Breathing Really Help An Exceptional Player

Here is an e-mail i received.

A friend of mine, ..... plays tennis everyday twice a day, plays doubles all of the time.  I don't think he see the spin or controls his breathing but is an exceptional player.  The thought comes to mind, "I wonder how much better he could be if he only knew?"

Yes, if your friend would get into seeing the ball and breathing, he will benefit greatly, just like you do. But a lot of good players are not open to this way since if makes them let go of control and many people don’t like to do that.

Here is a story about my friend Ken Stewart who wrote the preface in my book. After showing him how to really see the ball, he told me about a match he played about 3 weeks later. He was asked to play doubles with three 6.0 players. He insisted that he couldn’t play at their level but they were desperate for a 4^th. Anyway, he said he was “forced” to see the ball because of the pressure to play well and he told me that he was the best player on the court.

A Question About Breathing When Playing Doubles

Here is a question I receive about breathing in doubles.

When playing doubles, when do you suggest exhaling?  I am experimenting with, when the opponents hit the volley just like the serve.  Obviously this is a timing thing, kind of like the split step.

Breathing in doubles is, as you are discovering, is a little trickier. The thing to keep in mind is to start the exhale before making contact with the ball. This means that if you are doing an exchange at net your exhale will be short and quick but still as relaxed as possible. The good news is that the points in doubles are usually short so you shouldn’t get out of breath or hyperventilate.

Here is what I do when I play.

When my partner is serving, as soon as I see the ball bounce in the service box, I begin my slow and long exhale and, of course, begin to see the ball. That way if the ball does come to me, I will be as prepared as possible.

When my partner is receiving, I will do my breathing as if I were hitting the ball even though he is actually doing the hitting. That way it will be as normal to my breathing as if I were playing singles.

I have not played doubles since I have discovered the 2^nd generation bounce-hit exercise so I am not sure how that is going to work, but in singles I have played the best I have ever played three times now and even when not playing my best it is still at a higher level than before. And the only reason I haven’t played as well is because, for some reason, I couldn’t keep my focus. Some days are better than others.